changnaam

Further update if anyone is following, I have found Covid insurance which has come up as THB 2,250 for each child through AXA Thailand, and is specific for travellers OUTSIDE Thailand for up to 30 days cover. No option on the website to do a family cover so will contact them, but in our case better than taking a day out at the Thai Embassy London.

Thanks UbonJoe, I believe that to get an Emergency Passport we have to travel to the Thai Embassy, which due to location will cost more and require a day off work and school so is just not worth it. I am trying to sort Covid insurance for the trip now but I am guessing the cost of that will be less than the cost / time of going to London for the Emergency Passport. You are correct though, that would be an option, cheers.

Finally got an answer from the Thai Embassy in London. As I expected / feared anyone entering on a non Thai passport is considered as a foreigner, even if they are a Thai national, so Covid insurance for the kids it is. Not even going to comment on my view on this, we tried multiple times to renew their passports. So the "Thailand Pass" is going to be as foreigners for the children. Requirements for Foreigners travelling to Thailand during COVID-19 travel restriction and FAQ on Thailand Pass from 1 November 2021 - Royal Thai Embassy, London This is the link if it helps anyone.

Thanks for the input guys, the more I think about it the more I think that getting Covid insurance for the kids and using UK passports is the way to go. If we get the Thailand pass based on their Thai passports ( meaning Covid insurance should not be required) but then the airline refuse to check them in with their UK passports as the Thailand Pass is linked to their Thai passports, and refusing to check them in on UK passports as there is no Thailand Pass linked to that passport is probably not a risk worth taking. With £250 in pre flight tests, £500 for SHA+ as well as the cost of the flight it is not worth taking a risk of failing to fly due to any possible grey areas. Its a shame because it should be clear, as Thais they don't need the additional insurance but not worth the risk. Of course their passports should be up to date but every time we have asked to renew have been told emergency only.

Will try and keep this brief....... I am waiting for answers to this question from the Thai Embassy in London and the support page on the Thailand Pass website, but as I hold my breath I thought I would ask for opinion on here. Flights are booked, Quarantine hotel booked and vaccinations done for adults, children all under 12. I believe that only NON Thai nationals need to provide the Covid cover and this is where the confusion lies for me, or where we could come unstuck ( I will organise normal travel insurance as my private healthcare has sufficient Covid cover). 1 of the children's Thai passports have run out ( they hold Thai and UK passports) and the embassy in the UK has been unable to renew "due to Covid", so they will have to travel on their UK passport with the plan to renew in Thailand. It is not clear on the Thailand Pass website if they will be accepted as "Thai" for the application and for the travel ( for travel they will be UK nationals as that is the valid passport). Even when you do the application as a Thai national in English still offers the option to add insurance details but I thought that Thai nationals would not require Covid insurance? The "reasoned" part of me would suggest that they can apply as Thai nationals ( using their expired passport as evidence) so from a Thailand Pass position they are a Thai national entering Thailand ( and do not require Covid insurance), but from the flight and entry into Thailand they will have to use their UK passport. But........ having lived in Thailand for 20 years all reason goes out of the window, so I expect that this will not be seen in the same way..... "your passport has run out so you are not Thai until you get a new passport" is what I would expect the answer to be, and "you are entering Thailand on a non Thai passport so you are not Thai and need Covid insurance" is what I would be expecting to hear. Of course it would be sensible to have the Covid insurance anyway in case anyone tests positive on entry but it would be good to get a better idea of how we stand in this area of "grey" which is so often the case in Thailand. Maybe I have answered my own questions already and the safest option would be to apply for all children as UK nationals, travel on UK passports ( we are staying less than 30 days) and get insurance for everyone but to add a further shade of grey we did this once and were questioned at length as to why Thai nationals were entering Thailand on UK passports..... If anyone has already faced a similar situation or has any further thoughts it would be appreciated. Thanks